Construction Completed on Largest Solar Plant in Africa

A construction project worth almost $32 million for a 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania has been launched by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.

Apr 19, 2013

The new Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Plant located in Nouakchott and will be the largest solar PV plant in all of Africa, and will create 10 percent of Mauritania’s energy and displace nearly 21,225 tons of carbon dioxide each year. The plant will also help the area reduce power outages, power more than 10,000 homes, and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

“This new solar power plant not only provides much needed grid capacity for our people, it also proves that renewable energy can play a major role in the development of our country. The United Arab Emirates, a nation dedicated to improving global welfare, have committed resources and expertise to improving energy access through renewable energy technologies. This is a testament to the UAE leadership’s vision of ensuring sustainable development – economically, socially and environmentally,” said President Abdel Aziz.

The plant will consist of almost 30,000 micromorph thin-film panels and the support systems for the PV modules will be installed into the ground instead of using a concrete foundation, which reduces costs and carbon emissions. In Africa, solar and wind energy practices are becoming a more common way to improve energy access and security for the area.